Thabile Fuhrmann
Thabile Fuhrmann is a Director in our Dispute Resolution practice and Joint Head of our Government & State-Owned Entities sector.

About Thabile
About Thabile
Before joining CDH, Thabile founded her own independent law firm called Thabile Fuhrmann & Associates Inc. Prior to that she practiced in partnership under the name and style of Knight Thabile Fuhrmann Attorneys. Upon dissolution of the partnership in August 2004, Thabile continued to practice for her own account until December 2011. She subsequently joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as a Director in January 2012. In 2018, Thabile was appointed as Chairperson. She held this position until 2022.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- BProc, University of South Africa
- LLB, University of the Witwatersrand
- Certificate in Energy Law, Mandela School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
- Admitted as an attorney in: 1996
Memberships
- Black Lawyers Association
About Thabile
Before joining CDH, Thabile founded her own independent law firm called Thabile Fuhrmann & Associates Inc. Prior to that she practiced in partnership under the name and style of Knight Thabile Fuhrmann Attorneys. Upon dissolution of the partnership in August 2004, Thabile continued to practice for her own account until December 2011. She subsequently joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as a Director in January 2012. In 2018, Thabile was appointed as Chairperson. She held this position until 2022.
Credentials
Education
- BProc, University of South Africa
- LLB, University of the Witwatersrand
- Certificate in Energy Law, Mandela School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
- Admitted as an attorney in: 1996
Memberships
- Black Lawyers Association
Experience
BEE driven acquisitions
Assisting corporate clients in several strategic BEE driven acquisitions in some of South Africa’s leading ICT and related services companies. One of these transactions, valued at over R40 million, was finalized in August 2006 (with Invested as the debt funder) wherein I inter alia, drafted and settled sale of shares and shareholders’ agreements; reviewed the financing and dividend policy agreements from the financial institution involved; and reviewed and settled subscription and preference shares agreements and etc.
Business Connexion
Successfully defended Business Connexion (Pty) Ltd in arbitration proceedings in a dispute relating to the interpretation of an inchoate agreement and the arbitrability of a claim arising from a lapsed agreement.
IDC
Acted for and assisted the IDC in a multi-lender, multi-billion-rand manganese mining project in the Northern Cape.
Aeromix SA
Advised and assisted Aeromix SA (Pty) Ltd (holding sole distributorship rights for specialised mining equipment in the whole of the Southern African region) with the negotiation and sale of its business to a multinational UK based company (represented at the time by Webber Wentzel) and the successful transfer of its entire workforce in terms of Section 197 of LRA. (transaction value circa R200m).
IDC
Provided numerous opinions to the IDC in relation to tender disputes and the interpretation of public procurement laws, inter alia, Section 217 of the Constitution, the PMFA and Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, Treasury Regulations etc.
IDC
Successfully reviewed and set aside several decisions of the Master of the High Court, in favour of the IDC, in an acrimoniou insolvency matter, with a punitive costs order against the Master's Office.
IDC
Successfully defended the IDC against a R29 million claim by joint liquidators of a company in liquidation in terms of Sections 26 and 29 of the Insolvency Act.
IDC
Acted for the IDC in successfully recovering in excess R50 million worth of shares in a listed company it had funded in terms of a preference share subscription transaction as well as a cession and pledge of shares. This resulted in the IDC recovering the capital and interest in full (based on the value of the shares attached through the sheriff of court).
Listed ICT entity
Successfully defended a client (a listed ICT entity) against an arbitration involving a contractual dispute (contract value – in excess of R100m).
City of Johannesburg
Successfully acted for the City of Johannesburg (COJ) in various high court applications to relocate large groups of Soweto, Diepsloot and Zandfontein residents who were beneficiaries of low-cost housing and the eviction of illegal occupants of improved and unimproved council properties in accordance with the provisions of the PIE and ESTA Acts.
GEPF and PIC
Successfully acted on behalf of the GEPF and PIC in a highly contested shareholder dispute in the high court relating to one of its investee companies.
IDC
Successfully acted on behalf of the IDC in various acrimonious insolvency proceedings and successfully converted provisional liquidation orders to business rescue proceedings involving IDC's investee companies.
IDC
Successfully acted on behalf of the IDC in several matters involving PAIA applications inter alia from members of the Public, organisations such as AfriForum, the Office of the Public Protector, the Zondo Commission and other private sector companies in relation to the IDC's funding projects across various sectors of the South African economy (during the period 2012 to date).
IDC
Successfully represented the IDC at the Zondo Commission of Enquiry into Corruption and State Capture (2019).
Eskom
Acted on behalf of Eskom in a PAIA application launched by Earth Life Africa.
City of Johannesburg
Successfully defended the City of Johannesburg in a landmark review application in respect of a public procurement tender awarded for substantial bulk roads and storm water infrastructural upgrade in Soweto.
Successfully defended certain employees of the IDC (in their capacities as directors in an IDC subsidiary) in criminal proceedings instituted by the Green Scorpions in terms of the Environment Conversation Act, 73 of 1989 and Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993 (Asbestos Regulations).
Furnished specialised legal opinion to the City of Johannesburg and Eskom (working closely with one of our country’s leading senior counsel who is an expert in these fields) relating to post-retirement employees benefits at local government level and within a state-owned entities. This included, inter alia, investigating employee benefits at state-owned enterprise level; the legal implications ofpost-retirement medical aid contributions and the employer’s obligations in that regard.
Represented Rand Water in multiple procurement arbitral disputes.
News

To amend or not to amend: The effect of rectification on concursus creditorum
“A written agreement which fails to express accurately the true intention of the parties may be rectified so as to make it accord with the parties’ common intention. If the party seeking rectification...

The Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist for Africa
Congratulations to our Dispute Resolution Lawyers that have been included in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist for Africa.

Does non-compliance with section 129(2)(a) of the Companies Act render a resolution void without more?
A party to a contract must not be allowed to have its cake and eat it – such is the doctrine of approbation and reprobation, long recognised in our law. In Hlatshwayo v Mare and Deas...

Eviction under the PIE Act: If wishes were horses
It was Erik Pevernagie who said, “ Desire or impassioned liking go with a demanding and ongoing quest, and therefore patience and indulgence are decisive to hitting the trail to empathizing...

Cutting corners in a rescue attempt: A most expensive lesson
Business rescue is a procedure to give companies breathing space while they overcome their financial difficulties. The business rescue proceedings aim to help a company which is in...
Recognition
2023
Legal 500
Thabile Fuhrmann was listed in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Africa 2023.

Legal 500
Thabile Fuhrmann was listed in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Africa 2023.
Expertise

Dispute Resolution
Our lawyers work together with clients to find business-oriented dispute resolution solutions.

Business Rescue, Restructuring & Insolvency
We have an experienced team that can balance businesses’ needs with the pragmatic realities they face.

Government and State-Owned Entities
We provide a comprehensive service that can be applied to all aspects of public law.

International Arbitration
We guide our clients through the complexities of international arbitration.

Public Law
We have experience across key areas of public law and understand the relevant legal and policy frameworks.

Regulatory
CDH offers expert advice on transactions across many different jurisdictions.